Buehrle treats Toronto rookies to new suits in NY

By Gregor Chisholm / MLB.com

NEW YORK -- The Blue Jays' road trip to the Big Apple came with an all-inclusive shopping spree for the rookies courtesy of veteran left-hander Mark Buehrle.

Buehrle decided to get the rookies fitted for some custom suits. He gathered Marcus Stroman, Aaron Sanchez, Rob Rasmussen, Ryan Goins and Todd Redmond at the team hotel on Friday morning and then went to one of his favorite spots.

"He's like an old-school guy," Stroman said. "He said in his first year he had someone do it, I forgot who he said, one of the veteran guys did it for him, took him out.

"Pretty cool, Buehrle's the man. He has a lot to offer and he's the most down-to-earth guy, for all the success he's had. It's awesome being around him."

Stroman said the Blue Jays walked into the store and Buehrle told them to get whatever they wanted. It's a tradition the rookies hope to pass on when they eventually become tenured players in the league.

"He's in a situation where he can do that for rookies, and hopefully one or four or five or six or whoever was there can keep the tradition and pass it on to some of the other young guys that come up," Sanchez said. "It's neat. I'm very appreciative for him to do that for us. It meant a lot to us, I know for sure."

Blue Jays send former top pick McGuire to A's

NEW YORK -- The Blue Jays traded former No. 1 Draft pick Deck McGuire to the A's on Friday afternoon in exchange for cash considerations.

McGuire, a right-handed pitcher was designated for assignment during the All-Star break to make room for left-hander Brad Mills. The veteran Mills has since been designated for assignment, but he cleared waivers and will report to Triple-A Buffalo.

The minor trade of McGuire is a fitting end to his tenure in the Blue Jays' organization. Toronto selected McGuire with the 11th overall pick in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, but he never lived up to expectations.

McGuire spent parts of four seasons in Double-A New Hampshire before eventually getting promoted to Buffalo earlier this year, though he continued to battle control problems.

The 25-year-old was the first Draft selection made during Alex Anthopoulos' time as general manager. With the Bisons, McGuire went 3-5 with a 5.56 ERA while striking out 38 batters in 55 innings.

Gibbons hopeful Lind, Encarnacion return this month

NEW YORK -- Blue Jays manager John Gibbons still isn't sure when he's going to get Adam Lind and Edwin Encarnacion back into the lineup, but he hopes it will be before the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline.

Both players are currently working out at the club's Minor League complex in Dunedin, Fla. They will be joined within the next few days by third baseman Brett Lawrie, but the reunion isn't expected to last very long.

Gibbons was initially vague about a timeline for Encarnacion and Lind's return, but when asked if it could drag into early August, he became a little more specific.

"Hopefully they're back before that," Gibbons said Friday afternoon. "That's being optimistic, but there's a chance they could be."

That could mean the Blue Jays hope to have Lind (fractured right foot) and Encarnacion (strained right quad) back at some point during their upcoming series in Boston from July 28-30. If not in Boston, then the two likely would join Toronto for a four-game series in Houston starting on July 31.

Lawrie's return won't be quite as soon. He has yet to make the trip to Florida but will begin to ramp up his workouts soon, with an eye toward a return at some point in early August.

Outfielder Nolan Reimold is expected to be the first injured player to make his return. Reimold is eligible to come off the disabled list on Sunday after suffering a strained left calf muscle. The 30-year-old likely will be back either Sunday in New York or Monday in Boston.